Will US Labor Secretary resign over sex abuse allegations?

US Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta has found himself in the midst of a sex abuse scandal in connection with a New York financier Jeffrey Epstein, who is now being charged with sex trafficking and sex acts with children as young as 14.

Federal sex trafficking charges were brought against Epstein on Monday, raising new questions about Acosta’s handling of a related case in Florida in 2008. Federal prosecutors including Acosta reached a plea deal with Epstein that has since come under scrutiny as being too lenient.

Acosta is suspected in covering Epstein's actions, when he supposedly helped struck a deal in 2008, when he was the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. That agreement allowed Epstein to plea to a lesser offense. He served 13 months in a county jail in Florida with leave during the day and was required to register as a sex offender.

“I am calling on Secretary Acosta to resign,” Schumer said in a speech on the Senate floor. “It is now impossible for anyone to have confidence in Secretary Acosta’s ability to lead the Department of Labor.”

“If he refuses to resign, President Trump should fire him,” Schumer added.